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Making a connection

One of Britain’s most popular Christian websites is that of an online dating agency. GEORGE LUKE finds out more about Christian Connection

Cilla Black’s Blind Date would be envious of such a success rate. Since Christian Connection’s website got off the ground two years ago, eight couples have married and another 10 are engaged as a result of it.

It also receives more than 1.5 million hits a month and about 900 visits a day – about 15 of those being new joiners.

"I wouldn’t have set it up if I didn’t believe there was a need for it,” said website founder Jackie Elton, "but I have been surprised about how so many different types of people have joined. It’s one thing thinking that this has got to be a good idea, but actually seeing it in practice, and seeing people getting together through it – that’s pretty amazing."

Most of the people joining Christian Connection are looking for a partner, but some join simply to make new friends. Unlike traditional dating, where a third party chooses the other person for you, Christian Connection members decide themselves who they would like to contact, and control what information they give out. The site has discussion boards where all sorts of issues can be talked over, and Christian Connection also arrange social events, which are open to all members.

"Those have been very successful,” says Jennifer MacKay, one of the three full-time staff who help keep the site going. "It’s simply reassuring to single Christians, who may feel in a minority in their churches, to know that there are a lot of people like them out there."

Having briefly been a member of the Connection‚ myself, I can testify – if only partly – to its effectiveness. Shortly after joining last year, I received a response from "Annie” (only first names are used), who was intrigued by my description of myself as "totally mad." Before long, we were conversing like old friends. Sadly, a fairly long spell out of the country caused my membership to lapse, and we lost contact. Still, it was nice while it lasted.

"Where people do have problems paying, we help as much as we can,” said Jackie. "There are lots of people in low paid full-time Christian work who are members, and a lot of single parents. Also people on pensions, unemployed, or just generally having problems paying. We do arrange a special rate, usually about half price – and of course, you have to produce some evidence of your status to qualify for that."

Christian Connection recently formed a link with fish.co.uk, Christian Aid’s community website; for each member who joins via fish.co.uk, Christian Connection gives Christian Aid £1.50.

"We like to think we have a good relationship with our members," explained Jennifer. "We’re always delighted when a member gets in touch to tell us they’ve met someone special or made a good friend through the site, and some of the new features to the site come about following suggestions from members.

"For the most part, members are happy to get on using the site, knowing they can get in touch with someone if they have a problem or query. However, we are not – and do not claim to be – counsellors or relationship experts. We run a website; we don’t try to give advice about how to handle relationships."

Apart from the obvious concerns about safety, people who use the internet to find love and friendship often have to put up with a certain amount of prejudice. "There was a stigma surrounding internet dating," said Jennifer, "but in the UK it’s becoming less stigmatised. One couple even asked for our logo, so that they could put it on the Order of Service for their wedding!"

Jackie is currently concentrating on getting the Christian Connection brand name even more widely known nationally, and looks forward to the day when internet dating is no longer seen as something unusual. She is keen to develop an international side to it as well, but Britain remains her first priority. She’s also looking forward to attending her first Christian Connection wedding in October.

"We’ve been promised wedding invitations, but have never actually been to any," she said. "But a good friend of mine joined Christian Connection at my encouragement; met someone, and now he’s getting married!"

Annie, if you’re reading this ...

Visit Christian Connection’s site at www.christianconnection.co.uk
GEORGE LUKE is a single freelance journalist based in London

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		RESOURCES Making a connection One of Britain’s most popular Christian websites is that of an online dating agency. GEORGE LUKE finds out more about Christian Connection Cilla Black’s Blind Date would be envious of such a success rate. Since Christian Connection’s website got off the ground two years ago, eight couples have married and another 10 are engaged as a result of it. It also receives more than 1.5 million hits a month and about 900 visits a day – about 15 of those being new joiners. "I wouldn’t have set it up if I didn’t believe there was a need for it,” said website founder Jackie Elton, "but I have been surprised about how so many different types of people have joined. It’s one thing thinking that this has got to be a good idea, but actually seeing it in practice, and seeing people getting together through it – that’s pretty amazing." Most of the people joining Christian Connection are looking for a partner, but some join simply to make new friends. Unlike traditional dating, where a third party chooses the other person for you, Christian Connection members decide themselves who they would like to contact, and control what information they give out. The site has discussion boards where all sorts of issues can be talked over, and Christian Connection also arrange social events, which are open to all members. "Those have been very successful,” says Jennifer MacKay, one of the three full-time staff who help keep the site going. "It’s simply reassuring to single Christians, who may feel in a minority in their churches, to know that there are a lot of people like them out there." Having briefly been a member of the Connection‚ myself, I can testify – if only partly – to its effectiveness. Shortly after joining last year, I received a response from "Annie” (only first names are used), who was intrigued by my description of myself as "totally mad." Before long, we were conversing like old friends. Sadly, a fairly long spell out of the country caused my membership to lapse, and we lost contact. Still, it was nice while it lasted. "Where people do have problems paying, we help as much as we can,” said Jackie. "There are lots of people in low paid full-time Christian work who are members, and a lot of single parents. Also people on pensions, unemployed, or just generally having problems paying. We do arrange a special rate, usually about half price – and of course, you have to produce some evidence of your status to qualify for that." Christian Connection recently formed a link with fish.co.uk, Christian Aid’s community website; for each member who joins via fish.co.uk, Christian Connection gives Christian Aid £1.50. "We like to think we have a good relationship with our members," explained Jennifer. "We’re always delighted when a member gets in touch to tell us they’ve met someone special or made a good friend through the site, and some of the new features to the site come about following suggestions from members. "For the most part, members are happy to get on using the site, knowing they can get in touch with someone if they have a problem or query. However, we are not – and do not claim to be – counsellors or relationship experts. We run a website; we don’t try to give advice about how to handle relationships." Apart from the obvious concerns about safety, people who use the internet to find love and friendship often have to put up with a certain amount of prejudice. "There was a stigma surrounding internet dating," said Jennifer, "but in the UK it’s becoming less stigmatised. One couple even asked for our logo, so that they could put it on the Order of Service for their wedding!" Jackie is currently concentrating on getting the Christian Connection brand name even more widely known nationally, and looks forward to the day when internet dating is no longer seen as something unusual. She is keen to develop an international side to it as well, but Britain remains her first priority. She’s also looking forward to attending her first Christian Connection wedding in October. "We’ve been promised wedding invitations, but have never actually been to any," she said. "But a good friend of mine joined Christian Connection at my encouragement; met someone, and now he’s getting married!" Annie, if you’re reading this ... Visit Christian Connection’s site at www.christianconnection.co.uk GEORGE LUKE is a single freelance journalist based in London © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.